KALE + COUSCOUS SALAD

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KALE + COUSCOUS SALAD

#SIAintheKitchen

There are some ingredients that are completely underrated...or simply get forgotten in one's fridge - one of those ingredients would be preserved lemons. Super salty and acidic, preserved lemons are commonly found in Moroccan/Africa dishes and can add a punch of flavour to any dish. I remember picking up a bottle from Gourmet Warehouse for a Moroccan-themed brunch a year ago and had completely forgotten all about it! So what to do with it? For some reason, I thought "salad" - and it completely worked!

I was going simply add some regular lemon juice and zesto a salad I was making until I found my jar of preserved lemons tucked in behind all my other miscellaneous jars of I-don't-know-what. I decided to make a simple vinaigrette with preserved lemon for the salad - and what a difference did it make! Although my salad would have been great with regular lemon, the brininess and mellowed touch of acidity from the preserved lemon added that much-needed ethnic kick. It certainly brightens up a salad and I would highly recommended preserved lemons to many savoury applications where lemons are needed.

Honestly, I always looked forward to getting a little morsel of preserved lemon with each bite of salad - total game changer.

KALE + COUSCOUS SALAD WITH PRESERVED LEMON VINAIGRETTE - serves 8

  • 1 bunch kale, leaves ripped into bite-size pieces

  • extra virgin olive-oil

  • 2 cups whole wheat couscous

  • 3 cups boiling water

  • 1 (398ml) can chick peas, drained + rinsed

  • 1 bunch italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

  • 3 preserved lemons, chopped finely, seeds removed

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 3 tbsp dijon mustard

  • 2 tbsp preserved lemon liquid

  • 1/2 tsp dried chili flakes

  • 2 tsps cumin

  • 2 tsps salt

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • additional salt + pepper to taste

  • toasted slivered almonds (optional)

  1. Massage the kale with a glug of extra virgin olive oil until all the leaves are fully coated. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.

  2. In a medium-sized heatproof bowl, place the couscous and pour boiling water over top of it. Cover for 5 minutes until cooked and fluff with a fork. Pour on top of the massaged kale.

  3. Add the chick peas, parsley, and preserved lemon. Mix well.

  4. In a small bowl, making the vinaigrette with all of the remaining ingredients minus the almonds. Whisk with a fork and taste. Add more salt + pepper if needed.

  5. Toss the vinaigrette with the salad and sprinkle toasted almonds on top before serving.

PLANT-BASEDStephanie Siavegetarian, vegan, what vegans eat, salad, grain salad, couscous, couscous salad, preserved lemon, siainthekitchen, sia in the kitchenComment